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New boutique to open in downtown Hastings

BeLoved will be located in the Meyer Building. Store owner Amy VanZee said it will open in March. Michelle Wirth / RiverTown Multimedia1 / 2

Sofia (left) and Amy VanZee.2 / 2

Downtown Hastings will soon see a new clothing boutique located in the Meyer Building. BeLoved will feature a sophisticated romantic style, according to business owner Amy VanZee.

Shoppers will still see a splash of the latest trends but VanZee wants the clothing to be able to be worn over seasons.

"My goal is to have great quality and a timeless style that you can wear again the next season," VanZee said.

VanZee also owns Schoolhouse Scoop locations in Hastings and Cannon Falls. In fact, the Canon Falls location just launched last summer. With the ice cream business in good health and the Meyer Building location available, VanZee said it was perfect timing to start the new fashion venture.

The boutique will carry clothing intended for women across all ages. One of VanZee's favorite things to do with her daughter, Sofia, is to shop. Carrying clothing that both mother and daughter would like was inspired by her shopping dates with Sofia at the mall.

"It kind of evolved into 'wow, this would be a really fun business together,'" VanZee said.

The pair have actually selected the inventory of clothing together. BeLoved will carry the basics including some jeans, colored pants and T-shirts. There will be lots of dresses, many of which VanZee described as flowy romantic. In addition, the boutique will carry accessories including purses and shoes.

The store itself will have what VanZee describes as a "French Country" theme with chippy wood, painted furniture and "a little bit of Eye Candy." Lacy Vreeland, of Eye Candy down the block, has been helping VanZee with some of her decorations.

The space will feature an exposed stone wall unique to the building's structure. There will be chandeliers and an old painted library desk that will be visible when people walk in. There will be two pillars with chippy paint, carpet to warm up the space and a soft hue of pink added to white paint on the walls.

The boutique hours are still to be determined, but VanZee plans to have the store open seven days a week. BeLoved plans to open for business in March.

Michelle Wirth graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2013 with a degree in journalism and web design. She worked as a web content editor for a trade association before coming to the Hastings Star Gazette in 2016.